HIIT is a buzzword in the fit world.
Everyone is doing it, talking about it and getting ripped from it. We want in.
HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. Think working out hard for a short amount of time. The short amount of time bit is particularly appealing…
Joe Wicks, AKA The Body Coach, gave us the low down on HIIT and told us how and why to get involved.
What are the benefits of HIIT?
The obvious – it’s over fast. You get up, do twenty minutes of HIIT and BOSH – you’re done for the day. Who has the time to spend hours in the gym? No one. Do a HIIT and get on with your day.
How can it possibly be more beneficial than an hour’s run or workout?
It’s simple: it’s over quickly and it makes you more lean. HIIT workouts burn calories for up to 18 hours after you’ve finished, but low intensity workouts just burn calories when you’re working out. This way, you get to exercise less, get more lean, and get on with doing other stuff in your day.
How many times per week do you need to do it to feel benefits?
Four to five times a week is what works best for me, but make sure you take your rest days seriously. Getting lean is a journey, it doesn’t just happen overnight, so make sure you challenge yourself by smashing out a mix of cardio and resistance over the week.
How would you structure a session if doing at home? Any good moves to try?
The best thing about HIIT is that you can do it anywhere. At home, in a hotel room if you’re travelling – you can even try it in the office. You can choose from a huge range of moves at home, depending on how much space you have. You could smash out mountain climbers, high knees, squat taps and even the dreaded burpees (sorry!) for a great HIIT workout. Make sure you warm up first and have a 1:2 ratio for work:rest in your HIIT – then go and cool down, make yourself a build up bagel and you’re all set for the day.
What's the best way to recover from the session?
Make sure you carb up after doing a HIIT workout to refuel your body. You might feel a bit sore, but just think of it as the first step on your journey to getting lean.
Check out Joe in action below and follow him on Instagram for constant motivation.
Fitness First has appointed Joe Wicks as an ambassador to demonstrate how fitness, combined with healthy eating can boost a person's overall mood and wellbeing. For more information visit Fitnessfirst.co.uk.
